Oil-well torpedo



ci. 2, i928. 1,686,48

T. M. WINDER ET AL OIL WELL TORPEDO Filed May 16, 1927 Patented @ct 2, 1928.

mamas M. wmnnn AND WILLIAM n. Munnow, or INDEPENDENCE, Kansas.

OIL-WELL roIirEDo.

Application led May 16,

Our invention relates to certain improve ments in a torpedo for shooting oil wells of the t pe disclosed in an application of Mark D. itchell, Serial No. 659,321, iledAugust 25, 1923. The torpedo of said application consists of a shell of generally cylindrical shape, .the lower end of which is charged .with a small amount ofv explosive above which is mounted -a cage or framework adapted to receive a percussion cap for detonating the high explosive, a spring pressed hammer being mountedon the cage and adapted to be cocked and released after a predetermined time to explode the ercussion cap. In said torpedo of the itchell application the hammer was held cocked by a screw trigger which, after the hammer had been retracted was screwed down to a position in which it engaged the free endoi the hammer. 'The head of the screw trigger was bifurcated or slotted to receive the finger piece of the alarmwinding key of an alarm clock inserted into the casing face side up above the screw trigger; `The alarm clock, which, asdisclosed in said application of Mitchell was ofthe usual cylindrical type,- was to be wound and set so that after a' redetermined time the alarm would go o volving the winding key thereof and also revolvin the screw trigger to release the hammer.v t is the object of the present invention to further insure against the premature setting oli' of the alarm and conse uent detonating of the torpedo and with this in view we provide a latch to engage the. winding keynof the alarm mechanism of the clock which latch is withdrawn from engagement with the alarm winding key priorV to the time for which the clock 'has been set by the engagement therewithofthe winding key ofl the time mechanism of the clock. Thus the torpedo is protected from premature explosion not only by the mechanism of the clock by which the alarm isset 0E at the predetermined time but also by the latch controlled by the timing mechanism of the clock;1

In the drawings accompanying and .forming a part of this specicatiom Figure 1 is an axial section through such a torpedo, parts being shown in elevation.

` Fig, 2 is a .transverse section through a portion of the clockwork mechanism.-

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the' torpedo on the plane of line 3-3 of Flg. 1.

Figs. 4 and 5 are isometric views of detail. We will first describe so much ofthe presref 1927. Serial No. 191,588.

ent construction as is substantially disclosed 1n said Mitchell application and thereafter refer to the` improvements thereon which constitute the present invention.

In the drawin the container 6 is shown as a metal shell o? generally cylindrical form but tapered at the lower end. The casting isnlipllow and forms av chamber,`the lowerA end ofwhich is intended to contain a quantity of high explosive?. The upper end of the casting may be 'bored out to form a shoul der 8 above the explosive containing end thereof, said shoulder forming .a seat for a metal cage or framework 9 for the timing and cap exploding mechanism. 1

The cage comprises a lowershelf lor par-y tition l() and an upper-shelf or partition 11, longitudinal members .12, 13v connecting said shelves and a seat or support for a clock above the upper shelf. The support for the clock comprisesa ringv14'0f an external diameter to fit within the bore of the casing and legs'15, 16 supporting the seat 14 at a suitable distance above the shelfvll.- By reference more particularly to Fig; 1 it will bevnoted that the annular seat 14 is designed to receive a'cylindrical alarm clock of a kind common upon the market and which has a rearwardly extending portion 17 of some'- What less diameter than 'the main body 18 of the clock. 'The main body of the clock is of such diameter as to loosely fit within the shell or container and rest upon the ring 14 and the portion 15' of the clock of less diameter enters within the ring. The lower part of the shelf 10 is formed with a boss or projection 19 which is perforated vertically, the

vhole being counterbored as at 20 to receive the hammar, whichthrows the latter against the ring pin when the hammer is released, as presently to be described. The free edge of the hammer is chamfered at 27 to afford los a suitable bearing for the trigger screw 28 by which the hammer is temporarily'held in cocked position when the device is set -for use. The trigger screw is threaded into p a .hole inl shaft 11- and the head thereof is l'cated t at when the alarm clock is on thev .slotted at 29 :for a purpose which will presently a pear. The trigger screw is so lo,

seat ofthe cage in the position as shown the finger piece 30 of the key of the alarm mechanism enters the :slot 29 of the screw.

In Figs'. land 2 the usual setting stem for the time mechanism -is'shown at 31` and the setting stem for the'alarm mechanism at 32,

andthe trigger screw screwed down untilA its conicalvend engages the face 27 of the hammer to hold 1t in retracted position. The cage with its associated parts is then placed 1n- 'sition as shown in Fig. 1, resting upon t eV shoulder 8. The clock is wound both as to the time mechanism and the alarm mechanism, these' two mechanisms' are set in thel usual 'way sothat the alarm may be released at a predetermined time and the clock is placed on its seat. The alarm key is, of course, revolved whenl the alarm is' released, and revolving the screw 28 to withdrawthe latter, `releases'. the chammer which strikes the firing pin and fires the cap.

Coming nowto the invention which forms ,the subject matter ofthe present specification, the purpose thereof is to lock the alarm keyso that it may not lbe accidently revolved to permit the device. to be fired-until after a predeterminedtime such Aas that required after the setting and assembling of the device to lower theV same into position in the well. With this in view we equip the clock with a sliding latch 40 which may be set -to engage the key 30 of the alarm mechanism and withdraw therefrom by the winding key 33 of the timin mechanism of the clock. Inthe form of t e invention shown, the stem of key 30 is perforated as at 41 and the latch 'mounted so as to have a limited sliding movement to permit its end 42 to bel engaged in the hole 41 or withdrawn therefrom.l In the referred construction shown the latch is bi vrcated to surround or embrace the time setting stem' 31 and the stem [of the time-winding key 33. These stemsfmay be grooved to better serve as guides. for .the latch, though this is not essential an eye or loop 43 guides the end 42 ofv thelatch. Just lbeyond the winding key 33 the latch is provlded with a blade i .44'so`located upon the latch that when ,the

end ofthe latter is in engagement with the' hole in the .winding key of the alarm mecha,- nism the blade is closeto the winding key ofthe time mechanism. The location of the blade 44 on the latch 'is such. that'. 'as the 'fil nism being left in the position shown` in dotted lines in Fig. 2 so that the blade 44 may comejclose to the stem 33. as shown in `fter the-.latch has been sety as indicated in Fig. y2, and the clockdropped onto the seat, the operation of the timing mechanismk f of the clock slowl revolves4 the.' cross,` bar 45 of the-time-win ing key so that the latter slowly withdraws the latch into ino rative position. Enough time elapsesv in this oper- .ation to permit the closing Aof the bomb or torpedo. and its lowering into the well.

After the latch is withdrawn, the continued movement ofl the clock -ultimately results in setting off the alarm mechanism as above described.

' The upper end of the torpedo is closed by a screw plug 50, a washer 51, serving to prevent the entrance of water or oil to the interior of the torpedo when the latter is lowered into the well topbe shot.`

It will be understood that in shooting a well the shattering charge is first introduced as usual and then the torpedo lowered onto the shattering charge and the tubing and tackle withdrawn out of the danger zone.. The torepdo having properly been set itV explodes after the predetermined interval A and sets oil the shattered charge.

We claim:

1. A clockwork mechanism forthe purpose described, having a timing and an alarm mechanism, -including a windin key for each, and a latch movable into an out of engagement with the alarm key and engaged by the key of the timing mechanism to withdraw it from engagement with the alarm 2. A clockwork mechanism for the purpose described, having a timingV and an alarm mechanism including a winding key for each and alatch mounted to slide into and out of engagement with the alarm key, saidl latch having an abutment in the path of the cross bar of the key of the timing mechanism whereby the rotationof the key of the timing mecanism withdraws the latch.

v3. In a Vv'device of the class described, va hammer, a trigger element for holding the hammer in retracted' position, time controlled means operatin after la predetermined interval to move t e trigger to release' lll las

the hammer, a latch for holding the trigger against hammer releasing movement, and time controlled means for withdrawing the latch. e

4. In a device of the class described, a hammer, a screwbolt for holding the hammer in retracted position having ahead adapted to engage the alarm key of a clock, a latch adapted to engage the screw bolt and prevent its turning and a support for an alarm clock adapted to hold a clock with its alarm key in engagement with said screw bolt and its time key in position to engage and withdraw the latch.

5. In a device of the class described, a

` cage having a receptacle for a percussion cap, a hammer on the cage for exploding the cap, a rotary trigger for holding the hammer in retractedl position and adapted to release the hammer when rotated, Van

alarm clock seated on the cage with the the rotation of the latter withdraws the latchl from engagement with the alarm winding key.

THOS. M. WINDER. WILLIAM R. MURROW. 

